WIC Complaint Procedure 

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There are 5 types of WIC complaints which can be reported:

  • WIC Civil Rights Complaint
  • WIC Program Complaint (Non-Civil Rights)
  • WIC Program Appeal
  • WIC Vendor Complaint
  • WIC Participant Complaint

WIC Civil Rights Complaint

A WIC Civil Rights Complaint results when an individual believes and indicates they were treated differently because of their race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

The Civil Rights complaint is investigated by the USDA with assistance from the Louisiana WIC State Agency.

A WIC applicant or participant can file a WIC Civil Rights complaint by completing the WIC Complaint and Appeal Form and following the directions included for mailing the Civil Rights complaint to the USDA. If mailing is not an option, the WIC Complaint and Appeal Form can also be emailed by clicking the Submit Form button in the upper right hand corner of the form.

WIC Program Complaint (Non-Civil Rights)

A WIC Program complaint (Non-Civil Rights) can be related to appointments, customer service, courtesy, fair treatment, answering telephones, clinic hours, food instruments, privacy and other related WIC service processing concerns. These complaints are investigated by the Louisiana WIC State Agency.

A WIC applicant or participant can file a WIC Program Complaint by completing the WIC Complaint and Appeal Form and mailing it to the WIC State Agency Director.  The WIC Complaint and Appeal Form can also be emailed by clicking the Submit Form button in the upper right hand corner of the form.

WIC Program Appeal

A WIC Program Appeal can be submitted by an individual who feels he/she has been unfairly denied, terminated, disqualified from the WIC program or required to make a cash repayment for improperly issued benefits, program fraud or abuse.

Appeal requests are forwarded to the Louisiana Division of Administrative Law with assistance from the Louisiana WIC State Agency. 

The WIC Complaint and Appeal Form should be completed and mailed to the WIC State Agency Director address listed on the form. The WIC Complaint and Appeal form can also be emailed by clicking the Submit Form button in the upper right hand corner of the form.

WIC Vendor and WIC Participant Complaints

WIC Vendor and/or Participant complaints are investigated and resolved by the WIC State Agency Vendor Section.

File A WIC Vendor Complaint

Vendor complaints can be filed by WIC participants or others against a vendor. Vendor complaints include, but are not limited to:

  • Adverse treatment of a WIC participant by a Vendor's owner, manager or employee
  • Charging more to WIC participants than other customers
  • Providing outdated or spoiled food items
  • Refusal to accept manufacturers' coupons, or other store discounts
  • Inadequate variety and/or quantity of WIC authorized supplemental food items

File A WIC Participant Complaint

Participant complaints can be filed by authorized WIC vendors or others against WIC participants. 

These complaints include, but are not limited to: 

  • Adverse treatment of a vendor's owner, manager or employees
  • Failure to distribute foods to intended WIC participants
  • Use of altered WIC food instruments (i.e., changing dates, names, or food amounts)
  • Purchase or attempted purchase of unauthorized foods with WIC food instruments
  • Attempt to purchase larger quantities of an authorized supplemental food item than listed on a WIC     

File a WIC Vendor/Participant Complaint at your local WIC Clinic

The WIC-19 Alternate Vendor/Participant Complaint Form can be completed and turned in to your local WIC Clinic. 

 

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.